An in-depth look at the Clinton LumberKings from radio broadcaster Dave Lezotte. The LumberKings are the class A Midwest League Affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.

Results tagged ‘ Off the Diamond ’

For one final time in this 2011 season, I’m venturing away from the game between the lines for an “Off the Diamond” interview segment. My guest tonight is Tyler Hildreth, LumberKings’ clubhouse manager since 2007.

Tyler will be leaving the LumberKings after five seasons for a new position within the University of Iowa’s athletic department. He’ll be in an equipment manager role for several of the Hawkeyes sports teams, including Men’s and Women’s Basketball and Volleyball. It’s a dream come true for Hildreth, a die-hard fan of Iowa sports.

Tyler looks back at five years with the LumberKings, talks about heading to Iowa and shares some advice for the next clubhouse manager on today’s interview.

The LumberKings wrap up a three-game road series in the Quad Cities tonight, looking to snap a three-game losing streak. Left-hander Tony Butler (3-3, 3.16) gets the start for Clinton, while the River Bandits counter with left-hander Anthony Ferrara (12-7, 3.11). First pitch from Modern Woodmen Park is scheduled for 7:00 PM, listen online at 1390kcln.com.

You know him as one half of our on-field emcee duo for the Chicken George Fling, the John Deere Tractor Race, The Oaks Chip Shot and more, he’s Kirby Rock, second-year Administrative Assistant for the LumberKings. It’s Kirby’s last day working for the LumberKings prior to heading back to school at Central College in Pella, IA, so now’s the time to get him for tonight’s “Off the Diamond” segment.

Learn more about Kirby’s outstanding High School baseball career at Calamus-Wheatland, what he’s learned in two seasons working for Director of Operations Mitch Butz, which promotion he enjoys the most, his aspirations to be a personal trainer and more.

The LumberKings will try and rebound from last night’s shocking 12-10 loss to the Quad Cities River Bandits in game two of the series tonight. Right-hander Stephen Kohlscheen (2-3, 4.94), 2-0 with a 0.50 ERA in three starts for the Kings, takes the hill against Bandits’ right-hander Zach Russell (6-9, 4.24). First pitch is at 6:30 PM, listen online at 1390kcln.com.

I recorded and aired this interview yesterday, but it was so close to game time I didn’t have time to put it online. I interviewed our new Official Scorer, Ben Schlesselman for another “Off the Diamond” segment. We talk a bit about his first year in the scoring hot seat but more about his passion for collecting baseball memorabilia and his day job as the Sports Information Director for Ashford University Athletics. It’s definitely a worthy listen.

The first “Off the Diamond” interview of 2011 features the newest member of the LumberKings office staff, administrative assistant Kate Voss. If you’ve been down to Alliant Energy Field already this season, you’ve probably seen Kate down on the diamond leading the on-field promotions or around the ballpark assisting Nate Kreinbrink and Mitch Butz.

Get to know more about Kate, a Sports Management student and basketball player at nearby Ashford University and the perfector of the “Candlelight Inn Chicken George Fling” in tonight’s interview.

As promised, it’s another “Off the Diamond” segment featuring the Public Address voice of the LumberKings and the Director of Operations and Education for the Clinton County Area Solid Waste Agency, Brad Seward.

Brad’s seen plenty of baseball in 15 seasons in the P.A. chair, and we’ll talk about some of the near history his seen this season (including Tom Wilhelmsen’s near perfect game last night). Also, Brad talks about environmental efforts at Alliant Energy Field and offers up conservation tips on the 3rd Annual “Going Green Night” at the ballpark.

Last night’s loss still stings. Leading 3-2 in the top of the ninth, the LumberKings succumbedto a three-run Cedar Rapids rally, falling 5-3. The game hinged on a double by Justin Bass that appeared from my seat to be foul. I’ll leave last night in the past, and we move on today.

We talk about the nearly 20,000-plus increase in attendance so far over last year, the first-annual “LumberStock” taking place at Alliant Energy Field this Saturday, improvements made to the park this season and upgrades planned for the future, remaining promotions on the schedule like tomorrow’s John Danks Bobblehead Night and more.

With a little over a month left in the season, the LumberKings need to get hot. Thankfully, it’s ace lefty Jimmy Gillheeney (8-7, 2.85) on the mound for his team-leading 21st start tonight. First pitch against the Kernels is at 7:00 PM, listen online at 1390kcln.com.

The LumberKings (as well as the rest of Minor League Baseball) had off yesterday for the MLB All-Star Game. Clinton currently sits alone in fourth in the West Division after Monday night’s 7-5 loss in Kane County.

For tonight’s LumberBlog feature, it’s time for yet another “Off the Diamond” segment. The behind-the-scenes look at some of your favorite LumberKings’ staffers takes its turn featuring the former Director of Promotions and current Director of Operations, Mitch Butz.

The Ashford, University grad has taken on numerous new responsibilites in his first year as a full-timer (third overall with the organization), including ticketing, online merchandising, season and group sales and everything else under the sun. He’s also a world-class handball player. Ok, everything is true but the last part. Get to know the man we call “Bootsie” on tonight’s pregame interview.

The Kings open a three-game series against the East’s cellar-dwelling West Michigan Whitecaps tonight. Right-hander Erasmo Ramirez (5-3, 2.80) puts his sixth-best ERA on the line tonight against a ‘Caps offense ranked 13th in the Midwest League. First pitch on this steamy Wednesday night is 7:00 PM, listen online at 1390kcln.com.

The behind-the-scenes folks behind LumberKings Baseball are not just limited to Alliant Energy Field. Peoria Charter motorcoach driver Chris Hadley is in his first season as the man who gets the Kings to their road games. He’s also tasked with getting them to the hotel, the gym, various places to eat, etc.

Life on the road isn’t all that glamorous here in the Midwest League, but Chris makes it a lot more tolerable. He’ll share his wisdom from the driver’s seat on today’s pregame interview.

The LumberKings try and break a two-game losing streak with left-hander Jimmy Gillheeney (6-6, 3.14) on the mound, making his team-leading 18th start. Gilly is 2-0 over his last two starts, allowing just three earned runs over the last 14.0 innings. He’ll face a Kane County club that handed the Kings a stinging 9-4 loss last night.

First pitch from Elfstrom Stadium is at 1:00 PM today, listen online at 1390kcln.com.

You haven’t seen much from the LumberBlog the last two days, and you can blame MotherNature. The Kings were rained out in the finale at Peoria on Tuesday night, then saw last night’s game suspended by rain at Alliant Energy Field in the fourth inning with Quad Cities leading, 1-0.

Last night’s game resumes tonight with another seven-inning contest to follow. Right-hander Erasmo Ramirez (5-3, 3.01) will start the second game. Read more in tonight’s Game Notes: 7.8.10 kingsnotes.pdf

With no new player/coach to interview, I figured it’s high time to renew the “Off the Diamond” segment. Tonight, I catch up with LumberKings’ clubhouse manager Tyler Hildreth. A member of the staff since 2007, Hildreth has seen the likes of MLB All-Star Neftali Feliz, Justin Smoak, Derek Holland and Craig Gentry pass through Clinton on their way to the Major Leagues. He’s also a diehard Miami Heat fan and will weigh in on his excitement over the pending LeBron James decision.

With not a lot of great things to talk about following Sunday’s 6-2 loss to the Fort Wayne TinCaps (aside from Jon Hesketh’s nine strikeouts over 6.0 innings), today seems like a good day to renew our “Off the Diamond” segment.

After talking Official Scoring and Groundskeeping, today we’ll talk on-field promotions with Administrative Assistant and Director of On-Field Promotions, Erin Turner. A member of the LumberKings’ gameday staff since the 2008 season, Erin handles everything on-field from first pitches to between-inning promotions to assisting with post-game events.

On the interview, we talk about her transition from media relations intern to her current role, the “nose goes” process of selecting first-pitch catchers, her rapport with the coaches and players, her goals for the future and more.

Right-hander Taylor Stanton (6-2, 3.25) starts for the Kings in the opener of the three-game series against Wisconsin tonight. Listen to the action on 1390kcln.com starting with the pregame show at 6:45 PM.

Meta

The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions.